As 2014 comes to an end, we are looking back at the year in pop culture. Some celebrities had a breakout year or continued their success, while others saw their professional or personal lives go downhill. Here are the celebs who had a great 2014...and those who didn't.
BEST
1. Jimmy Fallon
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The late-night host took over The Tonight Show in February, bringing his contagious enthusiasm to a larger audience. He and his wife also welcomed their second daughter, Frances. Oh, and he was just named Entertainment Weekly's Entertainer of the Year!
2. Chris Pratt
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Parks and Recreation fans already knew Chris was adorable and hilarious, but Guardians of the Galaxy put him on the map as an action hero (and total stud). 2015 is looking good for Pratt too, if Jurrasic World is any hint.
3. Taylor Swift
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Her album may be called 1989, but Taylor absolutely dominated 2014. From selling millions of records to hanging out with her posse of celebrity BFFs, the singer was everywhere.
4. Matthew McConaughey
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He started out the year winning an Oscar, starred in True Detective, and then blew our minds in Interstellar. The Mcconaissance is still in full swing, and we’re alright, alright, alright with that.
5. Lupita Nyong’o
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Another Oscar winner this year, Lupita wowed audiences with her film debut in 12 Years a Slave, and was cast in one of next year’s most anticipated films, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
6. Shailene Woodley
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The actress was the queen of book adaptations this year, starring in the first Divergent movie and then making us all cry as a teen with cancer in The Fault in Our Stars.
7. Iggy Azalea
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Iggy was on the radio constantly this summer, both with her single “Fancy” and her collaboration with Ariana Grande on “Problem.” The Australian became the first artist since The Beatles to have the number 1 and 2 Billboard Hot 100 songs at the same time with their first two hits.
8. Neil Patrick Harris
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NPH had a banner year, finishing his nine-year role as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother, winning a Tony for the lead in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and getting married to longtime partner David Burtka. And oh yeah, he also got named the host of next year’s Oscars.
WORST
9. Shia LaBeouf
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The actor displayed some peculiar behavior this year, wearing a paper bag over his head to a film premiere, staging a strange performance art piece, and getting arrested for causing a disturbance at a performance of Cabaret.
10. Amanda Bynes
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The former child star’s troubles continued in 2014, as she was arrested for a DUI in September and admitted to a psychiatric facility shortly after. Let's not even dive into those Twitter rants, as it's too sad and messy to write about.
11. Bill Cosby
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A series of rape allegations changed our view of the former sitcom star.
12. Robin Thicke
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The singer has fallen far from the 2013 success of his hit “Blurred Lines.” 2014 brought lawsuits and accusations about his writing. His album Paula, a desperate (and creepy) attempt to win back his estranged wife Paula Patton, was a flop.
13. Justin Bieber
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Justin didn’t release a new album this year, instead encountering a number of legal problems. He was arrested twice, as well as charged with vandalism. And worst of all, he totally screwed things up with Selena Gomez.
14. Gwyneth Paltrow
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In March, the actress announced her separation from Coldplay singer Chris Martin, her husband of ten years. Unfortunately, the public responded by making fun of her and the phrase she used to describe their separation, “conscious uncoupling.”
15. Teresa Giudice
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The Real Housewives of New Jersey star and her husband pled guilty to fraud charges, and she was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
16. James Franco
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After lashing out at a New York Times critic for a mild criticism of his performance in Broadway’s Of Mice and Men, the actor made headlines again by sending suggestive Instagram messages to a 17-year-old girl.
To everyone who had a good year, congratulations! To those who didn't, 2015 is almost here.
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Millennium Entertainment via Everett Collection
After John Turturro has finishes selling sex, he'll be back on the right side of the law. The actor is set to take over the lead role in the upcoming HBO miniseries Criminal Justice, which was originally developed as James Gandolfini’s passion project. The show, which is based on an acclaimed BBC series, will see Turturro play a high-powered New York lawyer who defends as Pakistani man accused of murdering a girl he remembers partying with on the Upper East Side, but can’t seem to recall whether or not he killed her. Robert De Niro was previously attached to the role, but had to step down amid scheduling conflicts.
Turturro’s move to television makes him one in a long line of Coen Brothers regulars who have recently made the jump to the small screen, including Steve Buscemi, whose show Boardwalk Empire is entering its final season, and Frances McDormand, who will play the title role in the upcoming mini series Olive Kittridge. Even their flick Fargo has moved over to television, and the FX series has been receiving rave reviews. Seeing all of these Coen-ites together on television got us thinking about some of Turturro's other collaborators, and the way they've influenced his career.
In honor of Turturro taking over Criminal Justice, we've ranked all of his frequent filmmaking partners based on the quantity and quality of their output, as well as their overall Turturro-ness - that elusive factor that determines how important these films are in understanding and appreciating Turturro's career.
MICHAEL BAY'S JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films: 3Best Role: Agent Simmons, specifically the one that appeared in the first Transformers film. That was the best one. Worst Role: None. That series needed Simmons more than he needed it. General Consensus: We're assuming that there are some people who looked into Turturro's other films thanks to his performance in the Transformers franchise, so at least some good came from it. Overall Turturro-ness: Low. Just go watch The Big Lebowski again instead.
MARTIN SCORSESE'S JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films Directed by Scorsese: 2 Number of Films Co-Starring Scorsese: 2 Best Role: Julian in The Color of Money. Mostly because Raging Bull doesn't count. Worst Role: Raging Bull, where Turturro was only an extra. General Consensus: While Turturro isn't a Scorsese regular, the films they have made together are very good. Hopefully they'll work together again soon, becuase Turturro and DiCaprio would make a hell of a team. Overall Turturro-ness: Low. The movies are definitely worth seeing, but they're not vital to the Turturro experience.
HAPPY MADISON'S JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films: 3Best Role: Emilio Lopez in Mr. Deeds, which Turturro has said was the most fun he had in a Happy Madison film. Worst Role: Phantom in You Don't Mess With the Zohan. It's best for everyone if we just continue to pretend this movie never happened. General Consensus: Turturro is generally the best part of whatever Happy Madison film he appears in, and he seems to have a lot of fun with Sandler, but these movies are... well, they're just not that good. Overall Turturro-ness: Middling. They're well known roles, but they're not well-regarded.
WOODY ALLEN'S JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films Directed by Allen: 1Number of Films Co-Starring Allen: 2 Best Role: Writer in Hannah and Her Sisters, which wins by default, since it's the only true "Woody Allen film" in Turturro's resume. Worst Role: Crocker Johnson in Company Man, which would have really benefitted from that cut Bill Murray cameo. General Consensus: One one hand, his collaborations with Allen have yet to produce a truly iconic Turturro role, but on the other hand, it's not You Don't Mess With The Zohan. Overall Turturro-ness: Middling, thanks to a boost from Fading Gigolo.
SPIKE LEE'S JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films: 9Best Role: Pino in Do the Right Thing. In addition to being an iconic film, it's also the role that kicked off a long-time partnership between Lee and Turturro. Worst Role: Don Angelo Bonasera in She Hate Me, the weakest film that the pair have made together. General Consensus: Turturro and Lee have been working together for over 20 years, and their partnership has produced some truly wonderful films, and it's one that should be celebrated a lot more often. Overall Turturro-ness: High. These films have produced some of Turturro's most iconic roles.
THE COEN BROTHERS' JOHN TURTURRO
Number of Films: 4 Best Role: Barton Fink in Barton Fink. It's quintessential Turturro. Worst Role: None. Turturro's four films with the Coen Brothers are some of the best they've made. General Consensus: He's an incredibly vital part of the Coens' cast of actors, and together, they brought the world Jesus Quintana. Clearly, this is a partnership for the ages. Overall Turturro-ness: Sky high. Because after reading this list, you definitely want to watch one of their movies again, don't you? Be honest.
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Late actor James Rebhorn penned his own obituary before his death last Friday (21Mar14). The veteran character actor, known for his roles in Scent of a Woman and TV drama Homeland, died at the age of 65 at his home in New Jersey after a long battle with melanoma, and knowing the disease would take over his life, Rebhorn wrote an emotional and heartfelt obituary for himself, which was posted on the website for St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jersey City, New Jersey, where the actor was a member.
Titled His Life, According to Jim, the piece reads: "James Robert Rebhorn was born on Sept. 1, 1948, in Philadelphia, PA (Pennsylvania). His mother, Ardell Frances Rebhorn, nee Hoch, loved him very much and supported all his dreams. She taught him the value of good manners and courtesy, and that hospitality is no small thing.
"His father, James Harry Rebhorn, was no less devoted to him. From him, Jim learned that there is no excuse for poor craftsmanship. A job well done rarely takes more or less time than a job poorly done. They gave him his faith and wisely encouraged him to stay in touch with God."
Rebhorn also paid tribute to his sister, Janice Barbara Galbraith, and his wife, Rebecca Fulton Linn, and his two daughters, Emma and Hannah, stating, "They anchored his life and gave him the freedom to live it."
He adds, "His children made him immensely proud. Their dedication to improving our species and making the world a better place gave him hope for the future. They deal with grief differently, and they should each manage it as they see fit. He hopes, however, that they will grieve his passing only as long as necessary. They have much good work to do, and they should get busy doing it."
He concludes: "Jim was fortunate enough to earn his living doing what he loved. He was a professional actor. His unions were always there for him, and he will remain forever grateful for the benefits he gained as a result of the union struggle. Without his exceptional teachers and the representation of the best agents in the business, he wouldn't have had much of a career. He was a lucky man in every way."

Fox Searchlight via Everett Collection/Lionsgate via Everett Collection
Every year, the Academy Awards has the gargantuan task of distilling an entire year of film into a small number of nominations slots for each category, and like every year, this one saw some very deserving films and performances left on the chopping block after the nominations were announced. But the the sheer number and quality of the fantastic films and performances that dotted cinemas last year makes the exclusions from this year's Oscar race sting worse than it has in recent memory. These potential nominees made very strong cases for being recognized by the Academy, but were unfortunately nudged out in favor of other films.
Best PictureInside Llewyn DavisNot nominating the Coen Brothers' beautiful tragicomedy about an artist struggling to keep hold of his artistic integrity is almost a crime, especially when there are only nine nominees listed for Best Picture out of a possible 10.
Best Director Park Chan-wook (Stoker) Director Park Chan-wook imbued his first English language project with a dark and gorgeous imagery that trumps many of the more conventional films nominated in the category, and should have been nominated.
Best Actor James Gandolfini (Enough Said) Gandolfini’s last film is an appropriate swan song that saw the actor breaking out of his Mafioso tough guy holding pattern and portray divorcee Albert with a loveable vulnerability.
Robert Redford (All is Lost) Redford’s battle with the elements had us dazzled, and the emotional heft that is is able to give the film despite the sparse dialogue and even sparser cast list is truly a feat.
Best ActressBrie Larson (Short Term 12) Brie Larson shines in this small story about the wounds we carry, and how difficult it is to truly let someone in to share the pain.
Greta Gerwig (Frances Ha) Gerwig fills Frances Halladay with hope and splendor, as we watch the tale of a young Brooklynite grasping at her dreams of becoming a professional dancer. Dreams that might be just out of her reach.
Supporting ActorJames Franco (Spring Breakers)We wish we lived in a world where the "look at my s**t" scene from Spring Breakers would play during the Academy Awards telecast. Sadly, this is not that world.
Supporting ActressCarey Mulligan (Inside Llewyn Davis)Watching a bristly Carey Mulligan rip into Oscar Issac’s Llewyn was one of the best film related joys in the year of 2013.
Best Original ScreenplayJoel and Ethan Coen (Inside Llewyn Davis)The Coens' whip smart yet deeply pessimistic script fills Inside Llewyn Davis with equal amounts of laughs and pathos.Best Adapted ScreenplayPeter Berg (Lone Survivor)Peter Berg's screenplay understands what it's like to be a soldier fighting for his life, in the middle of a warzone. The film never forgets to make the soldiers actual rounded characters whose interests extend far beyond the battlefield.
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20th Century Fox via Everett Collection
I appreciate November. I love a good July. May? I'll take 10 of 'em! But there is no synodic period that I detest more than January. Kicking off every year with a clammy reminder of our extant failures and a piercing underline of forthcoming stresses, January is one month through which many of us can use some psychological padding. As such, we usher in a new wave of movies to distract us from our living traumas and maybe inject a few instances of delight into our conscious thought.
Unfortunately, January doesn't even have the common decency to release any good films. With the exception of Her, hitting national theaters on Jan. 10, this month doesn't have a particularly attractive cinematic slate. As such, we play the catch-up game — holiday films still in theaters, summer releases just hitting DVD, Netflix picks you barely heard of the first time around. But as January is such a delicate time for so many of us, we'd be wise to choose the films most conducive to our psychological state. This is a time for feel-good movies.
As fabulous a piece of film as it is, you might not be able to handle 12 Years a Slave when you're struggling with our own emotional fragility and are seeking a feature with which to unwind during dinner. Inside Llewyn Davis might be a tremendous work of art, but it's not going to do you any favors in the serotonin department. Luckily, 2013 gave us plenty of flicks that were both high in quality and in their propensity to provoke smiles. Here are a few suggestions, separated by the exact sort of feel-goodery they instill...
FOR LAUGHTERCarefree, comedic feel-gooderyThe most base and primal breed of feel-goodery comes in the form of comedy. Not romantic comedy or dramatic comedy or coming-of-age comedy... just plain "for the LOLz" comedy. Sometimes, the only emotional weight a movie needs to foster is its ability to incur laughs. So, if you're feeling particularly somber and need to float some extra oxygen up to the brain, here are a few movies that made us laugh the hardest in '13:
The HeatHumor of the boisterous sort — slapstick, insults, outrageous situations, Albino people. Not a lot of weight, although the unlikely friendship arc grounds it in some substance. Not too much, though, don't worry.
This Is the EndDescribed as "the closest thing 2013 gave us to Ghostbusters" by Da7e Gonzales on the latest episode of Fighting in the War Room (worth a listen for some terrific 2013 movie suggestions), the apocalypse comedy from Seth Rogen and company does have something to say about friendships and social groups... but that won't get in the way of its employment as a distraction from your real life woes.
It's a DisasterAnother apocalypse comedy, with even more (at least on the surface) to say about friends and relationships! But all of the ostensibly weighty material — divorce, breakups, infidelity, death — is handled with feather weight. Delightful from beginning to end.
Computer ChessThis little-seen oddball mockumentary is the funniest movie I've seen all year. Set at the dawn of intelligent electronics age in the 1980s, we see weirdos take to an annual convention compete with one another in the design of the premier chess-playing computer device. It does not sound particularly interesting, maybe, but is insistently riotous.
[*Note: The World's End, while a fun and funny movie, is excluded from this "feel good" list because it is a far more depressing story than many of us can handle in the throes of January.]
Fox Searchlight via Everett Collection
FOR TEARSSweet, sentimental feel-goodery Sometimes, the release of depressive chemicals via your tear ducts is exactly what you need to make for a more relaxing evening. We don't mean Act of Killing-style tears (although that movie is more likely to actually to trigger an emotional response via your digestive tract), but tears of the soft, sweet, regrettably sentimental variety.
FrozenA Disney animated story about the tenable bonds of sisterly affection, being your own hero, and accepting and loving who you are regardless of what society has to say about it? The movie is more than likely to touch on something important to you.
NebraskaAlexander Payne's latest film might not exactly make you bawl, but there's a good chance you'll grow misty at watching a sad sack son reluctantly bond with his increasingly senile father as they make a spontaneous trip to the former's Nebraska hometown.
The Kings of SummerIn-family issues and introductions to love are approached in the coming-of-age dramedy that is as funny as it is sweet. The movie might even convince you to call the parent you've been fighting with, or reminisce over some of the dumb things you did with your best pal in middle school.
FOR CAMARADERIE"You're not alone" feel-goodery Sometimes, all we really need to feel better is to know that we're not alone — that other people (fictional characters or otherwise) are going through the same perils that we are, and are coming out of their messes all right.
Frances Ha2013's forerunner in the speaking-to-a-generation game. The titular Frances is every one of us aimless 20-somethings (especially those living in New York). She wants to channel her passions, maintain her cherished but one-sided best friendship with roommate Sophie, and find herself. It's an emotional ride, but one from which you'll walk away feeling a bit more validated.
Enough SaidIn a new relationship? Going through a breakup? Single? Married? Enough Said seems to understand each of these unique, funny, sweet, sad experiences quite well. Always real, but never too heavy!
The Spectacular NowThis is a risky one, because it packs quite an emotional punch when it cuts to the core of teenaged everyman Sutter (Miles Teller) and his festering self-hatred. But the character's experience with facing and conquering his demons might instill a new sense of self-worth in those who relate all too well to his plight.
[*Note: Before Midnight is just as earnest a portrayal of romantic relationships as Enough Said, but if you're in a delicate position, that third act will tear you apart.]
Magnolia Pictures via Everett Collection
FOR INSPIRATION"The world is full of beauty" feel-goodery Okay. You've had your laughs. You've had your cries. You've learned that there are others out there like you. Time to get INSPIRED.
Short Term 12The powerhouse of the troupe. This movie will get to you, and in a way that won't spare any pangs. But in the end, there's something really touching, beautiful, and uplifting about Short Term 12. Perseverance and partnerships are venerated in this must-see (maybe after you stockpile your mental state with a few comedies, though).
20 Feet from StardomYou, too, can achieve your dreams... or at least come relatively close, as this energetic documentary about back-up singers teaches us.
The Way Way BackSmaller scale inspiration: break out of your shell. Get a summer job. Learn how to swim. Meet Sam Rockwell.
AND THE RESTMiscellaneous feel-gooderyNot really laughers, tear-jerkers, calls to arms, or particularly relatable... but generally pleasant movies of remarkable quality.
Prince AvalanchePaul Rudd (with a mustache) and Emile Hirsch do highway repair in the wake of a massive forest fire. Meanwhile, they talk about stuff. Sex, poetry, nonsense. Lots of fun.
Crystal Fairy &amp; the Magical Cactus and 2012An odd movie, and one that is contingent on your enjoyment of a douchey Michael Cera. But it's an interesting, and visually sharp, ride.
Room 237Do you like movies? Wanna watch a movie about movies? Well, here you go!
Hope these help!
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Universal via Everett Collection
Every movie I saw in 2013, ranked from worst to best:
112. IDENTITY THIEFThe first comedy movie to not make me laugh once.
111. SAVING MR. BANKSInsulting, manipulative, dishonest, and unkind, with occasional song breaks.
110. SCARY MOVIE 5These movies have gotten much worse since we were 13.
109. GETAWAYINT. RACECAR. NIGHT. Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez crash into stuff.
108. GROWN UPS 2So much vomiting, so many homophobic jokes, so little plot.
107. I GIVE IT A YEARAn ugly, loveless rom-com that isn't clever enough to be satire.
106. DEAD MAN DOWNAll I remember is a whole lot of dark alleyways.
105. A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE MIND OF CHARLES SWAN IIIThe best part is the closing credits (I'm not being flip, they're actually kind of fun).
104. MOVIE 43Bad offensive joke after bad offensive joke after bad offensive joke...
103. WINNIE MANDELADesperately important story turned into a desperately dull movie.
102. TWICE BORNNo summary available due to lack of anything interesting happening in this movie.
101. R.I.P.D.Somebody forgot to give Ryan Reynolds any jokes.
New Line Cinema via Everett Collection
100. THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONEThis movie could have been funny if Wonderstone wasn't such a d**k.
99. ONLY GOD FORGIVESInteresting in the moments when it's not shoving its unpleasantness down your throat.
98. MAN OF STEELSetup: cerebral reinvention of Superman. Payoff: mass property damage.
97. CARRIEBeat-by-beat remake without any of the original's spirit.
96. THE TO DO LISTUncomfortably raunchy and mean. Thank God for Bill Hader.
95. KICK-ASS 2More Mean Girls shtick would have benefited this weak sequel.
94. PHANTOMI'm not sure this was actually a finished movie.
93. WRONGObnoxiously nonsensical, but not without its share of laughs.
92. THE SMURFS 2Mostly cloying, but Neil Patrick Harris is incurably watchable.
91. HANSEL &amp; GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS Dumb.
90. JOBSBoring.
89. NOW YOU SEE MEPossibly the worst ending in a 2013 movie, but a few bits of fun along the way.
88. WE'RE THE MILLERS[Pop culture reference]
87. RED 2John Malkovich's facial contortions save this from total failure.
86. STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS It hsa a few pros, but is mostly one giant... well, you know.
85. RIDDICKSurprisingly intriguing, when it isn't being deplorably sexist.
84. FREE BIRDSEh, turkeys are kinda funny.
83. PRISONERS Thankfully, scenes of Hugh Jackman yelling are intercut with the far superior scenes of Jake Gyllenhaal yelling.
82. WHITE REINDEER Any minute now, this movie is going to reveal its inner glory! Any minute now!
81. EVIL DEAD A better horror flick than the original! But still mostly forgettable.
Vertical Entertainment
80. GBFMostly charming, undone by its "safe" and "classy" ending.
79. THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALISTIt's kind of hard to get past how boring the title is.
78. DESPICABLE ME 2 Lots of minions. People like minions, right?
77. JOHN DIES AT THE END Not nearly as weird as it thinks it is or wants to be.
76. 2 GUNSHey, wait a minute, this movie is kinda funny! ... Not that funny, but kinda.
75. SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES MEI like to call this movie Click Offerman.
74. WHITE HOUSE DOWNWould be more fun if we were ready to laugh about terrorism.
73. AT ANY PRICEBoooriii— HOLY S**T WHERE THE F**K DID THAT COME FROM?!
72. BAD MILONot quite up to par with your expectations for the "Ken Marino has a demon in his butt" synopsis.
71. MONSTERS UNIVERSITYLackluster prequel, nice to look at, big band music.
70. THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES In its audacity, this silly amalgam of YA tropes can actually be a lot of fun.
69. THE CONJURING Fascinating subplots about the exorcism industry would be better served at the head of the film.
68. PEEPLESThere's a joke about wristwatches that I still think about.
67. SIDE EFFECTSSoderbergh's farewell caper doesn't have as much fun as its loony plot would demand.
66. ELYSIUMBroad and clumsy, but how wrong can you go with Bald Matt Damon?
65. OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFULIt works with Dark Side of the Moon.
64. THE COUNSELORThe book was better. Wait, this wasn't a book? Well it should have been.
63. IN A WORLD...A fun, biting look at an unappreciated industry! ... until it dissolves into mild genericism.
62. THE LONE RANGER Oh come on, you didn't love the William Tell climax?
61. THE WOLVERINENot always engaging, but at least it's about something.
Summit Entertainment via Everett Collection
60. WARM BODIESNot really about anything, but at least it's engaging.
59. THE BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWNUndeniably powerful, but feels like it could use a few more revisions.
58. ENDER'S GAMESpace Camp: The Movie! (Slightly less expensive than actual space camp.)
57. PACIFIC RIMMonsters vs. robots aside, there's a riveting world constructed in the backdrop of this sci-fi epic.
56. ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUESThe battle royale does not disappoint.
55. YOU'RE NEXTThe fun, swift hook isn't nearly as interesting as the great character work that it replaces.
54. THE WAY WAY BACKI, too, long to get life advice from a waterpark-dwelling Sam Rockwell.
53. SOME VELVET MORNINGEven if you see the twist coming, the chemistry here is impeccable.
52. THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIREShut up, Peeta, I'm trying to watch all the good parts of this movie.
51. 20 FEET FROM STARDOMA story that deserves a little more spirit and energy than it is given in this documentary.
50. DON JONNo. 50 on "Best Movies" list, No. 1 on "Best Trailers."
49. THE ROCKETA feel-good kids' adventure substantiated by the gravities of war. Wins in both areas.
48. CRYSTAL FAIRY &amp; THE MAGICAL CACTUS AND 2012Beautifully shot, interestingly written, impressively acted.
47. MUD Yes, we all loved The Goonies, and we all loved David Wooderson, so...
46. CUTIE AND THE BOXER A vivid struggle that is equal parts artistically, martially, and internally based. Engrossing all the way.
45. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS Tom Hanks' best performance in ages in a dramatic thriller that feels real (for obvious reasons).
44. THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG As a Legend of Zelda fan, this movie's world awakened something in me.
43. FRUITVALE STATIONThis character story is at odds with its out-universe goal, but Michael B. Jordan is unforgettable.
42. BEFORE MIDNIGHTI'm still not sure how I feel about that ending, but it was good to catch up wit Jesse and Celine.
41. DARK TOUCHEverything that Carrie could have been. A shocking fantasy about human pains.
Walt Disney Co via Everett Collection
40. THOR: THE DARK WORLDMore Chris O'Dowd.
39. BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLORIntellectually stimulating, but doesn't hit all its emotional marks.
38. THE WORLD'S ENDI've been saying "Gooey Wooey Egg Man" for months.
37. THE GREAT GATSBYLights! Music! Pizzazz! Moxy! The bee's knees! The cat's pajamas!
36. ENOUGH SAIDBest TV drama's male lead + best TV comedy's female lead = quite a charming romantic dramedy.
35. SIGHTSEERSWell, this is rather amusi— HOLY S**T WHERE THE F**K DID THAT COME FROM?!
34. THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINESNot sure if the "three stories" approach makes for the most powerful character work, but it's an enchanting ride.
33. THE WE AND THE I A bus full of inner-city high school kids turns into a magical kingdom thanks to Gondry's dreamy edge.
32. NEWLYWEEDSA love triangle with marijuana as the third party. Weighty, but never overly so, and funny throughout.
31. GRAVITY. . .
30. PRINCE AVALANCHE Heh heh, look at Paul Rudd's mustache.
29. THE WOLF OF WALL STREET Yes, we all loved the 'ludes scene. Very, very much.
28. ALL IS LOSTRobert Redford, you still got that same oomph. You too, ocean.
27. SAVING LINCOLN The weirdest, goofiest, funniest biopic about Abraham Lincoln ever.
26. THE KINGS OF SUMMER Kids run away, live in the woods, grow up, make jokes. Always a charming endeavor.
25. AMERICAN HUSTLE Little more than a cartoon, but an emotionally explosive and riotous one at that.
24. THE HEAT Melissa McCarthy insisting on stepping out of a moving car earns a full five minutes of laughter alone.
23. DRINKING BUDDIESNever dips too low on the emotional spectrum, but stays real and fresh in the face of the rom-com genre.
22. UPSTREAM COLORA difficult, confusing, harrowing thinker.
21. STOKER Somehow both effectively haunting and deliciously fun.
Room 237: the movie/Facebook
20. ROOM 237 Less a doting tribute to The Shining or Kubrick than it is to movie-lovers and their bottomless well of theories.
19. BLUE JASMINE Each party fires on all cylinders in Woody Allen's Streetcar gem, Sally Hawkins especially.
18. S#X ACTSThe sadness of this story of our youth's desperate obsession with and reliance on sex is its authenticity.
17. IRON MAN 3 The first true action comedy in Marvel's line of films shows how much fun superhero movies can really be.
16. ESCAPE FROM TOMORROW Take notes, John Dies at the End. THIS is one weird f**king movie.
15. NEBRASKA Father vs. son, past vs. present, dreams vs. reality. Everything here is touching, funny, and inviting.
14. PAIN &amp; GAIN Michael Bay talks a long, hard look in the mirror with this biting send-up of everything his other movies represent.
13. THIS IS THE ENDFar more interesting and insightful than it will get credit for being, This Is the End uses a literal apocalypse and no dearth of d**k jokes to deconstruct tenets of friendship and social politics.
12. THE ACT OF KILLING While this documentary would benefit from restructuring, the power of its message (especially its final few monents, not to mention the "anonymous"-heavy credits) is painfully resonant.
11. FROZENOffering the magic and whimsy you'll remember from time-honored Disney classics, but so much more in the way of its message, Frozen might very well be the most magnificent and meaningful animated feature yet to spring from Walt's legacy.
10. COMPUTER CHESSIt doesn't have much to say about the human condition (beyond maybe highlighting our propensity for arrogance and self-directed delusion). It doesn't tell a story that'll stick with you for very long. But Computer Chess reigns supreme as, far and away, the funniest movie of 2013.
9. SPRING BREAKERS A dark, wicked, wholly upsetting reflection of the toxic direction in which we might be headed. And James Franco gives a tour-de-force of a performance with his demonic scoutmaster Alien.
8. IT'S A DISASTER An intelligent, meticulously directed farce about group politics and conflicting personal philosophies, executed to near perfection thanks to the rhythmic participation of a more than capable cast.
7. 12 YEARS A SLAVEAn unprecedented masterpiece that sings the traumas not only of Solomon Northrup, a free man captured and sold into slavery, but in his fellow sufferers as well. For my money, the true anchor of the story is in Lupita Nyong'o's Patsey, whose suffering is unlike anything we've seen managed on the big screen in years.
6. HER With so much to say about such tremendous topics, Her manages to still dive so deep into the heart of its story: the pangs of love in the wake of the inevitable fallibilities of romantic relationships. Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson alike give dynamic performances, and Spike Jonze mystifies us with his strange, cold, all-too-familiar world.
A24 via Everett Collection
5. THE SPECTACULAR NOWThis is one of those movies you try to convince yourself to inch out of your top 10, or five, for fear of being seen as juvenile. ButThe Spectacular Now hits such genuine notes with Miles Teller's Sutter, climaxing at a moment where you'll recognize an angst so true to life and so criminally absent from most movies about the journey toward self-love.
IFC Films
4. FRANCES HA Months and months after my first encounter with it, this deceptively simple film sticks in my head, reminding me that its every artful beat is riddled with emotional weight and ironic humor alike. Greta Gerwig and director Noah Baumbach give us the a New York movie to rival Annie Hall, zooming in and out of the perspective of the young women and men who occupy, and drown within, today's version of the biggest, most stupefying city in the world.
CBS Films
3. INSIDE LLEWYN DAVISSadness, coldness, loneliness, failure... such wonderful things when handled by filmmakers like the Coen Brothers. Padding this antithesis of triumph with some of the most beautiful, somber music you'll hear all year, Inside Llewyn Davis makes us fall in love all over again with the very idea of the artistic struggle.
Touchstone Pictures via Everett Collection
2. THE WIND RISESHayao Miyazaki's final movie doesn't pass judgment on its hero, a man so devoted to his work (building weapons) that he neglects his wife, sister, and friends. It doesn't endorse these choices either. Instead, it hones in on the passions of its hero/antihero, challenging us to sympathize with a fellow whose only desire is to do his job while we lament his sacrifices. More even than Gravity does the frequently airborne animated picture induce dizzy spells as we connect with the conglomerate of colorful, intriguing characters in this grim but dainty biography.
Cinedigm via Everett Collection
1. SHORT TERM 12 There are so few flaws to highlight in The Wind Rises, Inside Llewyn Davis, Frances Ha, and the other entries on this top 10 list. What separates Short Term 12 is not a complete lack of error, but in an umatched spirit for the telling of its story. The movie wants us to feel the pains of counselor Grace (Brie Larson) and the disavantaged children for whom she cares, highlighting abused Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever) and orphan Marcus (Keith Stanfield). It also wants us to feel the hope that it brings to these characters in their plight to overcome the hands they have been dealt. Every emotion in this movie carries through with such force. For those of us who know any of these trials personally, they ring tremendously true. For others, they work to invite you into this sad but hopeful world. We've been gifted with a ton of exemplary cinematic works this year, but nothing sticks with me more than this tearful, heartrending masterpiece.
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Universal / IFC Films
It wouldn't be award season without a handful of upsets, pleasant surprises, and "whaaaaat?"s, and the Golden Globes aren't about to start letting us down this year. The nominations for the 2014 Awards were announced Thursday morning, causing a bunch of "huh?"s and "hmm..."s to fly around.
Here are the nominations that made us scratch our heads and shout out a few "woo!"s:
Whaaaaaaaat??
Best Motion Picture, Drama: Lee Daniels' The Butler Got NothingThis film was tailor-made for award season, and it didn't even make the list once. We're not saying it should be on the list, just that we're surprised that it's not... and that Forest Whitaker is nowhere to be seen.
Best Motion Picture, Drama: RushSeparating the best motion picture category into dramas and comedies/musicals leaves room for movies to sneak their way in, but even with that said, we're definitely surprised to see Rush on the list. Sure, the film got good reviews, but there definitely hasn't been a big push for it to get any award attention. But who even cares who else is on the list when 12 Years a Slave or Gravity is going to take home the trophy.
Woo-hoo!!
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: Greta Gerwig, Frances HaThis is unbiasedly the best surprise on the list. Greta Gerwig's performance in Frances Ha is incredibly earnest, honest, and laugh-out-loud funny, and we're glad she's getting credit where credit is due. Plus, we just love her dance moves.
Best Actress in a TV Series, Drama: Tatiana Maslany, Orphan BlackOkay, so this news might be even better than Greta Gerwig getting a nod for best actress in a comedy. Maslany was completely robbed at the Emmys for her role(s) in Orphan Black (she didn't even get a nomination!), and we're so happy that she's finally getting the recognition she deserves.
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie: Corey Stoll, House of CardsWe're definitely pleasantly surprised that Stoll got a shout out for his role in House of Cards. Sometimes it's hard to remember that there are more actors in the Netflix show than just Kevin Spacey, so we're glad someone else is getting a little attention.
Huh?
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: Idris Elba, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom We love Idris Elba. We really do. But we're still surprised he made the list. We want to say that we're pleasantly surprised, but there's just too many great leading actors in this year's pool of contenders to let our love for Elba blind us from everyone else's performances. His portrayal of the late Nelson Mandela is strong, but it doesn't standout from those in other Mandela-inspired films.
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Daniel Bruhl, RushFor this category, we're not surprised that Bruhl made the list, but rather that Rush made the list yet again. Someone over at the Golden Globes must seriously have a thing for the race car flick.
Best TV Series, Comedy: Brooklyn Nine-NineTruth be told, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a pretty funny show. It's got a great cast -- Terry Crews, Chelsea Peretti, and Andre Braugher know how to make people laugh -- and some solid writing, but it's such a new show and has so much left to prove that we're surprised it caught the eye of award season so early on. (And enough with The Big Bang Theory and Modern Family already. We get it. Award season really loves them.)
Best Actor in a TV Series, Drama: James Spader, The Blacklist and Liev Schreiber, Ray DonovanWe're surprised that James Spader is getting so much praise so early on for The Blacklist, and we love Liev Schreiber, but has anyone ever talked about Ray Donovan... ever?
Best Animated Feature Film: Monsters University Didn't Get a NodGiven that only three animated films were nominated (The Croods, Frozen, Despicable Me 2), we're surprised that Monsters University wasn't added to the list. It might not be strong enough to beat out Frozen, but it has to be just as bad/good as The Croods.
Ugh.
Best TV Series, Drama: Downton Abbey and The Good WifeUgh. How boring. Downton Abbey and The Good Wife always seem to make the drama list, and we're ready for something new. We're glad that House of Cards and Master of Sex made the cut, but what about Orphan Black, The Americans, or Game of Thrones? But we guess it doesn't matter anyways; we all know Breaking Bad has the best chance of winning.
Best Actor in a TV Series, Comedy: Michael J. Fox, The Michael J. FoxOkay, so we're not actually surprised by this at all. Of course the Golden Globes would give a shout out to Fox, but come on, neither the show or his performance deserves a nod this time around. We just don't think he should be on the list.
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